WO2017137509A1

WO2017137509A1 - Solar panel

Info

Publication number: WO2017137509A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/052913
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pascal NUTI; Brahmi SAADI
Original assignee: Solable Sas
Priority date: 2016-02-10
Filing date: 2017-02-09
Publication date: 2017-08-17
Also published as: EP3414495A1; FR3047550A1; FR3047550B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a solar panel, comprising: a first wall (10) arranged to be exposed to solar radiation; a second wall (20) arranged at a predetermined distance from the first wall (10); a space (15) for heating heat-transfer fluid (70); means for supplying the heating space (15), wherein: the second wall (20) is a plate comprising a front surface (21) facing the first wall (10) and a rear surface (22), the front surface (21) and the rear surface (22) being separated from one another by a plurality of partitions (24) defining a plurality of tunnels (23) inside the second wall (20); the supply means comprise at least one supply tunnel (25) selected among said plurality of tunnels (23), and said supply tunnel (25) is placed in communication with the heating space (15) via a plurality of openings (26) arranged in the front surface (21).

Description

SOLAR PANEL

The present invention generally relates to a solar panel for heating a heat transfer fluid. Such a solar panel is otherwise called solar thermal panel, but the invention also covers a photovoltaic solar panel, which has been added a heat transfer fluid circuit to be heated.

It is known in the prior art such solar panels, in particular that disclosed in EP2963809. In return, this system has the disadvantage of being able to be expensive to assemble, and it is also necessary to provide a strong enough structure to avoid any deformation of the structure over time.

An object of the present invention is to meet the drawbacks of the prior art mentioned above and in particular, first of all, to provide an economical solar panel to manufacture, and which has a rigid structure that does not deform or little. For this purpose, a first aspect of the invention relates to a solar panel arranged for heating a heat transfer fluid, comprising:

a first wall arranged to be exposed to solar radiation,

a second wall arranged at a predetermined distance from the first wall,

a space for heating the coolant arranged between the first wall and the second wall,

means for supplying the heating medium with heat transfer fluid, characterized in that:

in that the second wall is a plate comprising a front face facing the first wall, and a rear face, the front face and the rear face being separated from each other by a plurality of partitions defining a plurality of tunnels in the second wall,

in that the supply means comprise at least one feed tunnel selected from the said plurality of tunnels, and in that the said feed tunnel is placed in communication with the heating space by a plurality of orifices arranged in the front face.

The solar panel according to the above implementation comprises a second wall which is in fact a plate with a very strong internal structure to bending (main stress on a large plate held by its edges, as is often the case. case for a solar panel). Indeed, the faces of the second wall are separated by partitions, so we have a honeycomb structure, and each face is far from the neutral fiber in case of bending, and this greatly increases the bending strength without weighing down the solar panel. In addition, the invention takes advantage of this honeycomb structure by using one of its tunnels to supply heat transfer fluid to the heating space. The tunnel is advantageously used to distribute the fluid, which simplifies the general structure, by adding on the second wall this distribution function. It is of course understood that in use, the first wall is arranged between the sun and the second wall. In addition, the second wall, with its internal honeycomb structure provides effective insulation between the heating space and the back of the solar panel. In addition, it is understood that the solar panel is inclined relative to the horizontal to ensure a flow or gravity runoff.

Advantageously, the solar panel comprises means for evacuating the heat transfer fluid from the heating space.

Advantageously, the evacuation means comprise at least one evacuation tunnel selected from the plurality of tunnels, wherein said at least one evacuation tunnel is placed in communication with the heating space by at least one orifice of the face. before. In other words, one of the tunnels is assigned to supply the heating space, and one of the tunnels is assigned to the evacuation of the heating space. This results in a saving of means, and the fluid is fed and discharged through the same second wall, by one or more tunnels which form the structure. Advantageously, said at least one evacuation tunnel is adjacent to a lower edge of the solar panel.

Advantageously, the coolant is water or water mixed with an antifreeze.

Advantageously, the supply means are arranged to deposit the coolant in the heating space on the first wall. The heat transfer fluid then slides along the first wall in droplets or in liquid streams with a random movement and a low flow rate, but a high efficiency of heat capture, because the fluid is directly in contact with the first wall which is the one exposed to the sun, and because the heating space is closed and well isolated from the outside, depending on the predetermined distance. We can talk about runoff on the first wall or between the two walls.

Advantageously, said plurality of orifices is arranged along said feed tunnel. The distribution is carried out over the entire width of the solar panel, which optimizes the heating capacity by using the entire surface of the first wall. Runoff is therefore imposed on the entire width of the solar panel.

Advantageously, said feed tunnel is parallel to an upper edge of the solar panel. Advantageously, said feed tunnel is adjacent to an upper edge of the solar panel. Runoff begins at the very top of the solar panel.

Advantageously, said feed tunnel is adjacent to an electrical junction box. The feed tunnel is located under the housing of junction when the panel is installed, which protects the junction box from any leaks, because it is above the coolant circuit.

Advantageously, said feed tunnel is closed by lateral plugs arranged on lateral edges of the second wall. Advantageously, the solar panel comprises circulation means arranged to create a coolant flow in the solar panel, and the circulation means are connected to the feed tunnel by one of the side plugs. The same plug provides two functions, it limits the number of parts. Advantageously, the circulation means are a pump which has a water height less than or equal to 5m. Such a pump is sufficient, since no pressure is really necessary in the coolant circuit. The runoff in the heating space is carried out by gravity, and circulation without pressure limits the risk of leakage and does not solicit the sealing elements.

Advantageously, the solar panel comprises at least one spacer arranged between the first wall and the second wall to impose said predetermined distance between the first wall and the second wall. We can of course consider providing several spacers, and spacing them from about 300mm. It is also possible to stick them on each wall, which then provides a link between the first and the second wall and further increases the resistance to bending.

Advantageously, the predetermined distance is in a range of values ranging from 1.5mm to 4.5mm. This range of value is ideal to guarantee a good runoff of the coolant between the walls. We can have drops or streams of liquid flowing.

Advantageously, the solar panel comprises sealing means, such as an O-ring, or a double-sided adhesive, or a silicone or polyurethane polymer, arranged between the first wall and the second wall, along a periphery of the solar panel.

Advantageously, the second wall is a cellular polycarbonate sheet. Such a plate is very advantageous because it is light, inexpensive, durable and resistant to solar radiation, very solid, and with a multitude of adjacent tunnels throughout its structure. Food grade polycarbonate can also be used.

Advantageously, the evacuation tunnel is closed by lateral plugs arranged on lateral edges of the second wall. Advantageously, the evacuation means comprise an evacuation hole formed in the second wall.

Advantageously, the solar panel comprises circulation means arranged to create a coolant flow in the solar panel, and wherein the circulation means are connected to the discharge tunnel by one of the side plugs.

Advantageously, the first wall is transparent.

Advantageously, the solar panel comprises a coating layer, such as polyvinyl fluoride, of the first wall, arranged between the heating space and the first wall, and the coating layer is black.

Advantageously, the first wall comprises at least one photovoltaic sensor. The solar panel is then thermal and electrical, hybrid in other words.

Advantageously, the solar panel comprises a perimeter frame arranged to secure the first wall and the second wall.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the following detailed description. an embodiment of the invention given by way of non-limiting example and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 shows a side view of a solar panel according to the present invention. FIG. 1 represents a sectional view of a solar panel according to the present invention, consisting essentially of a first wall 10 and a second wall 20, spaced from one another to define a heating space 15 between them, in order to to heat a coolant 70, under the effect of solar radiation produced by a sun 100. The first wall 10 is transparent is mounted at a predetermined distance from the second wall 20, by means of spacers 32 and a Perimeter frame 33 made of aluminum or PVC, for example. There is also provision for sealing means at the periphery of the solar panel, and a seal 31 of silicone or polyurethane sealant may be deposited between the first wall 10 and the second wall 20.

The spacers 32 may be bonded to the walls with a silicone or polyurethane sealant, and then provide a mechanical connection between the first wall 10 and the second wall 20, which improves the strength and rigidity of the assembly. Indeed, such a solar panel may have large dimensions

(1 mx 1 .65m for example), and deformations by bending can be harmful to a precise positioning on a frame or a roof for example. The spacers 32 thus provide a sandwich structure which increases the flexural strength. The first wall may be of glass or laminated glass, or a transparent polymer for example. It can also be provided to cover the inner face of the first wall 10 with a black coating layer to improve the heating capacity, which will therefore be between the heating space 15 and the first wall 10. The second wall 20 is in turn a honeycomb wall, typically a cellular polycarbonate plate. Indeed, the second wall 20 comprises a front face 21 and a rear face 22, separated by partitions 24, which thus define a plurality of tunnels 23. Such a plate is cheap, rigid and the invention advantageously takes advantage of this honeycomb structure, using at least one of the tunnels to form means for supplying the heating medium 15 with heat transfer fluid 70.

Indeed, the tunnel adjacent to the upper edge of the solar panel is a feed tunnel 25 connected via a lateral plug 41 to circulation means, a pump P. The feed tunnel 25 communicates with the heating space 15 through holes 26 formed in the front face 21, all along the feed tunnel, to run off the heat transfer fluid 70 along the heating space 15. It is conceivable for example to provide holes 26 from 01 mm, every 2 cm. The lateral plug 41 is thus pierced to be connected to the pump P by a pipe 61 which passes behind the lateral edge of the solar panel. The pump P is connected to a reservoir R that can be filled and emptied otherwise to take hot water and replace it with cold water. The tank R is connected via a pipe 62 to the lower part of the solar panel to collect the coolant 70 via a connector 42 passing through the second wall 20.

However, the coolant 70 could be perfectly collected in the same way as it is supplied at the top of the panel, that is to say, pierce the front face 21 at a tunnel 23 at the bottom of the panel and collect via a side plug 41. Although this is not shown, sealing means are naturally provided between the side plugs 41 and / or the connector 42 and the second wall 20, for example a silicone or polyurethane seal.

In the case shown here, drops 71 of heat transfer fluid 70 run along the first wall 10, and thus capture the heat of solar radiation, but it is conceivable to run continuous streams of heat transfer fluid 70 in the heating space 15. The distance between the first wall 10 and the second wall 20 (the thickness of the heating space 15 ) can ideally be between 1 .5mm and 4.5mm, which ensures that the heat transfer fluid will touch the first wall 10 to capture the heat. In addition, the runoff has a random path, which provides heat capture over the entire useful surface of the solar panel.

The runoff is also advantageous in the sense that it does not require pressurization, that is to say that the pump P does not need to be powerful and can be a simple pump lift, with a height water less than 5m for example.

Although this is not shown, it is of course possible to use the invention with a photovoltaic panel, and in this case, the first wall comprises a plurality of photovoltaic sensors.

It will be understood that various modifications and / or improvements obvious to those skilled in the art can be made to the various embodiments of the invention described in the present description without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

Claims

R EV IN DI CATI ONS

1. Solar panel arranged to heat a coolant (70), comprising:

a first wall (10) arranged to be exposed to solar radiation,

a second wall (20) arranged at a predetermined distance from the first wall (10),

a heating space (15) for the coolant (70) arranged between the first wall (10) and the second wall (20),

means for supplying the heating space (15) with heat transfer fluid (70),

means for evacuating the coolant (70) from the heating space (15),

characterized

in that the second wall (20) is a plate comprising a front face (21) opposite the first wall (10), and a rear face (22), the front face (21) and the rear face (22). ) being separated from each other by a plurality of partitions (24) defining a plurality of tunnels (23) in the second wall (20),

in that the supply means comprise at least one feed tunnel (25) chosen from said plurality of tunnels (23), and in that said feed tunnel (25) is placed in communication with the space heating means (15) by a plurality of orifices (26) arranged in the front face (21),

in that the evacuation means comprise at least one evacuation tunnel chosen from among the plurality of tunnels (23), and in that the at least one evacuation tunnel is placed in communication with the heating space ( 15) by at least one orifice of the front face (21).

2. solar panel according to the preceding claim, wherein the supply means are arranged to deposit the heat transfer fluid (70) in the heating space (15) on the first wall (10).

3. Solar panel according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said plurality of orifices is arranged along said feed tunnel (25).

4. Solar panel according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one spacer arranged between the first wall (10) and the second wall (20) for imposing said predetermined distance between the first wall (10) and the second wall (20). ).

5. Solar panel according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second wall (20) is a cellular polycarbonate sheet.

6. Solar panel according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one evacuation tunnel is adjacent to a lower edge of the solar panel.

7. Solar panel according to claim 6, wherein the evacuation means comprises a discharge hole formed in the second wall (20).

8. Solar panel according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a coating layer, such as polyvinyl fluoride, of the first wall (10), arranged between the heating space (15) and the first wall (10). and wherein the coating layer is black.

9. Solar panel according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first wall (10) comprises at least one photovoltaic sensor.